Huchuy Qosqo Trek
3 days | 2 nights | 15 miles | 1 nights camping | 1 night in a hotel
What is included?
Guided tour of Machu Picchu
Guided tour of Huchuy Qosqo
Two days of hiking
Tents for trek
All transportation for the trek
All meals during trek
All professional guides and staff
All permits, tickets, taxes, and fees
Explore two incredible Inca ruins, including Machu Picchu in one family friendly trip
You get to Cusco and we will handle the rest!
Schedule Overview
Day 1
The Journey Begins
Pick up from Cusco hotel around 6AM
30 minute drive from Cusco to trail head
6-7 hours of hiking to first campsite
Day 3
Tour of Machu Picchu
25 minute bus to entrance
Tour of Machu Picchu
Train to Cusco in the evening
Popular Questions
Short answer: "shoulder seasons", the Spring and Fall of North America. These months provide the best combo of good weather and lower crowds.
High elevation effects everyone differently. Two general pieces of advice: take it easy on your first day in Cusco and hydrate
We've compiled the ultimate packing list depending on which trip you're planning to take. Check it out at the link below
Schedule Details
Let's get specific...
Day 1
The Journey Begins
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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Max Altitude: 13,615 ft. (4,150m)
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Min Altitude: 11,811ft. (3,600m)
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Distance Traveled: 7.8 miles (12 km)
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Ascent: +1,804ft (+550m)
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Walking Time: 6-7 hours
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NOTE: Our trekking times are approximate and will vary depending on: weather conditions, group ability and other factors.
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MORNING
Your adventure will start early, a Kusa Treks van will pick you up from your hotel at 6AM. The train head is only 30 minutes outside of Cusco, on the way you will stop at an ancient Inca archeological site called Puka Pukara. After touring these ruins you will jump on the trail and start the hike, which begins with a gentle climb for 1-2 hours. At the end of this initial climb, you will reach the first pass, which has incredible views of two valleys below! Your guide will explain the history of how the Incas arrived to this area and how they were able to settle in this mountainous environment.
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After enjoying the views and taking pictures you will recommence the trek, you will have another 45 minutes uphill to reach the top of the valley. This portion of the hike is unbelievably gorgeous! There are rolling farmlands, mountainous passes, abundant wildlife and thousands of flowers.
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Upon reaching the top of the valley, you will stop at the lunch spot for the day, which has incredible views of the valley stretching out below. This will be your first experience eating the delectable food prepared by our professional chef and his crew.
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AFTERNOON
Following lunch you will have another 2-3 hours of hiking through more stunning scenery, including a loop around the Quriqucha Lake (Golden Lake). As you hike your guides will point out distinctive features of the landscape. The campsite for tonight is located within a local mountain community; whose inhabitants are cheerful and glad to welcome guests to their village.
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Once settled in you will visit with the families, and learn about their way of life and how they flourish in this environment. Many of our guests choose to bring school supplies, toys and sports equipment to share with the children and people of the village.
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EVENING
After spending time with these wonderful people, you can relax as you learn more historical facts from your guide, while enjoying a fabulous dinner prepared by the Kusa Treks chef. Later on in the evening, you will discover the Inca constellations stretching out in the incredible display of stars in the heavens above.
Day 2
Easy day of hiking. Incredible views. Tour of Huchuy Qosqo.
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Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Max Altitude: 13,123ft (4,000m)
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Min Altitude: 9,514ft (2,900m)
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Distance Traveled: ~7.4 miles (12 km)
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Walking Time: 4-5 hours
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MORNING
The day will start early, with an invigorating cup of hot coca tea and a delicious warm breakfast. You will begin by walking 2 hours, after which you reach a stretch of the hike that is on the Inca Trail. You will hike on the Inca Trail for a 2-3 of miles, while passing several Llama shepherds and their herds.
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The climate and scenery on the Inca Trail will turn from mountainous to rain and cloud forests with beautiful vegetation and hundreds of humming birds. Your guide will allow for plenty of stops, because the scenery is seriously some of the most beautiful on earth and you’re going to want to take pictures!
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AFTERNOON
After 3 hours you will reach the ancient Inca ruins at Huchuy Qosqo. Enjoy a guided tour of these incredible ruins, which are hundreds of years older than Machu Picchu. After the official tour, you will have time to explore the ruins on your own. After exploring Huchuy Qosqo, you will enjoy another tasty lunch and continue hiking towards the Urubamba River.
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You will hike down hill for about 2 hours to reach the Urubamba River where a van will be waiting to take you to Ollantaytambo, where you will eat dinner at a fabulous restaurant that serves elevated Peruvian cuisine.
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EVENING
After dinner you will board a a train to Aguas Calientes, which is the town right below Machu Picchu. You will get to your hotel and enjoy a hot shower and rest for your life-changing visit to Machu Picchu the next day.
Day 3
Tour of Machu Picchu
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Meals: Breakfast and a snack
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Max/Min Altitude: 7,972ft (2,400m) (Machu Picchu)
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Distance Traveled: ~2 miles, walking around Machu Picchu
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Walking Time: 4-6 hours
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MORNING
It is entirely up to you when you would like to start this exciting day! Today you will discover Machu Picchu, the world famous Sacred City of the Incas. The majority of travelers choose to wake up around 4:30AM, so that we can eat a quick breakfast and head over the bus station where we will attempt to catch the first bus from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. The drive to reach Machu Picchu Park is 25 minutes back the way you came the night before, uphill on a road full of switchbacks. The gates to Machu Picchu open at 6AM as the sun is rising over the lost city. It is truly magical to experience a sunrise over these ruins, as the mists part and the city rises from the clouds stone by stone.
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Your official guided tour of Machu Picchu will begin at 8AM and end at 10:30AM if you have permits to climb Huyana Picchu or it will begin between 6 and 7AM and end between 9 and 10AM if you choose not to climb Huyana Picchu. All of our guides have been to Machu Picchu hundreds of times and know this site incredibly well! Your walking, guided tour will start with the impressive Temple of the Sun. You will see several iconic areas of Machu Picchu including: The Citadel, The Royal Tomb, the Main Plaza, the Condor Temple and much more.
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NOTE: Due to new regulations (effective Jan 1. 2019), the paths that lead through Machu Picchu are all “one-way”, meaning you are not able to backtrack during your visit to Machu Picchu. Each visitor without a permit to climb Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will have ~4 hours to spend inside the park and those with permits to climb either Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain will have 6 total hours to spend inside the park (including the 2 hour climb).
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AFTERNOON/EVENING
After touring Machu Picchu, your guide will take you to the bus stop just outside the gates of Machu Picchu Park. You will take this bus to Aguas Calientes. Depending on your train departure time (see below), you will either need to head straight to the train station, or you can go to one of the many fantastic restaurants in Aguas Calientes for lunch (not included).
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There are several train class options for the ride back to Cusco. The main two trains are the “Expedition Train” (included in the price) and the “Vista Dome Train” (additional $70 USD per ticket). We usually try to get tickets for a train leaving in the 15:00 (3PM) hour, which will have you back to your hotel in Cusco around 19:00 (7PM).
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Train Information:
If you have a preference for departure/arrival time, and provide us with 4+ months notice, we are able to book tickets for the following departures:
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Expedition Train
The Expedition Train is the “normal” train, with plenty of leg room and good sized windows, these train tickets are included in price. All Expedition train tickets end at the Ollantaytambo train station, which is a 2 hour drive back to Cusco. When you arrive to the station, we will have private transportation arranged to take you back to your hotel in Cusco.
The following are departure times for the Expedition train:
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 14:55 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 16:31 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 18:30
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 15:20 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 17:08 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 19:10
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 16:22 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 18:10 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 20:10
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 18:20 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 20:05 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 22:00
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Vista Dome Train
The Vista Dome Train is an upgraded train, which provides entertainment and a meal. It also has a glass domed ceiling which provides better views of the Sacred Valley on your way from Aguas Calientes to Cusco. The Vista Dome train will end at either the Ollantaytambo station (2 hour drive to Cusco) or the Poroy station (30 minute drive to Cusco). The arrival station is based on the time the train leaves Aguas Calientes. These tickets are an additional $70 USD to upgrade.
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The following are departure times for the Vista Dome to the Ollantaytambo Station:
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 13:37 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 15:00 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 17:30 only available for those who do not do the Huyana Picchu hike
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 15:48 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 17:29 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 19:29
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 16:22 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 18:10 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 20:10
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 17:23 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 19:02 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 21:00
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 18:10 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 19:51 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 21:51
The following are departure times for the Vista Dome to the Poroy Station:
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 16:43 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 20:23 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 21:00
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Leave Aguas Calientes: 17:23 –> Arrive to Ollantaytambo station: 20:52 –> Arrive to hotel in Cusco: 21:30
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NOTE: Train times depend on: the number of people in your group, the time of year of your trip and the class of train you prefer.